Havre's Kyndall Keller, right, and teammate Kylee Nystrom joke on the bench as time winds down in their blowout win over Browning in the semifinals of the girls' Class A State Basketball Tournament in the Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls, Friday. TRIBUNE PHOTO/RION SANDERS

Browning's Ronnal Jordan handles the ball as Havre's Marca Herron defends during the semifinals of the girls' Class A State Basketball Tournament in the Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls, Friday. TRIBUNE PHOTO/RION SANDERS

Hardin's Aiyanna Ereaux attempts a shot in the middle of the Butte Central defense in the semifinals of the girls' Class A State Basketball Tournament in the Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls, Friday. TRIBUNE PHOTO/RION SANDERS

Hardin's Karissa DuShane, #4, and Aiyanna Ereaux celebrate as time winds down in their victory over Butte Centeral in the semifinals of the girls' Class A State Basketball Tournament in the Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls, Friday. TRIBUNE PHOTO/RION SANDERS

Butte Central's Kloie Thatcher attempts a layup as Hardin's Arena Plenty defends in the semifinals of the girls' Class A State Basketball Tournament in the Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls, Friday. TRIBUNE PHOTO/RION SANDERS

Havre's Kyndall Keller attempts to dribble passed Browning's Dulci Skunkcap in the semifinals of the girls' Class A State Basketball Tournament in the Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls, Friday. TRIBUNE PHOTO/RION SANDERS

Butte Central's Kloie Thatcher handles the ball as Hardin's Sharmayne Hardy defends in the semifinals of the girls' Class A State Basketball Tournament in the Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls, Friday. TRIBUNE PHOTO/RION SANDERS

Butte Central's Olivia Bolton high-fives teammate Tricia Joyce as Joyce steps to the free throw line for a potential 3-point play in Friday's game against Hardin during the semifinals of the girls' Class A State Basketball Tournament in the Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls. TRIBUNE PHOTO/RION SANDERS

Butte Central's Megan Michelotti, #13, and Hardin's Sharmayne Hardy battle for the rebound in the semifinals of the girls' Class A State Basketball Tournament in the Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls, Friday. TRIBUNE PHOTO/RION SANDERS

Hardin's Marie Five eyes the basket in the semifinals of the girls' Class A State Basketball Tournament against Butte Central at the Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls, Friday. TRIBUNE PHOTO/RION SANDERS

Hardin celebrates advancing to the state title game over Butte Central play in the girls' Class A State Basketball Tournament in the Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls, Friday. TRIBUNE PHOTO/RION SANDERS

Hardin's Karissa DuShane, #4, attempts a shot as Butte Central's Cassidy Strizic defends in the semifinals of the girls' Class A State Basketball Tournament in the Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls, Friday. TRIBUNE PHOTO/RION SANDERS

Havre's Kylee Norstrom handles the ball as Browning's Ronnal Jordan defends in the semifinals of the girls' Class A State Basketball Tournament in the Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls, Friday. TRIBUNE PHOTO/RION SANDERS

Havre's Katie Wirtzberger attempts to get around the defense of Browning's Tamika Guardipee, left, and Ronnel Jordan in the semifinals of the girls' Class A State Basketball Tournament in the Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls, Friday. TRIBUNE PHOTO/RION SANDERS

Havre celebrates advancing to the title game after their victory over Browning in the semifinals of the girls' Class A State Basketball Tournament in the Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls, Friday. TRIBUNE PHOTO/RION SANDERS

Havre's Kyndall Keller shoots as Browning's Tamika Guardipee defends in the semifinals of the girls' Class A State Basketball Tournament in the Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls, Friday. TRIBUNE PHOTO/RION SANDERS

Havre's Kyndall Keller shoots as Browning's Dulci Skunkcap defends in the semifinals of the girls' Class A State Basketball Tournament in the Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls, Friday. TRIBUNE PHOTO/RION SANDERS

Browning's Dulci Skunkcap shoots as Havre's Kylee Nystrom defends during the semifinals of the girls' Class A State Basketball Tournament in the Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls, Friday. TRIBUNE PHOTO/RION SANDERS

Havre's Kyndall Keller celebrates with Marca Herron asa time winds down in their blowout win over Browning in the semifinals of the girls' Class A State Basketball Tournament in the Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls, Friday. TRIBUNE PHOTO/RION SANDERS

Butte Central's Olivia Bolton, left, and Dawson County's Kasidi Walker battle for a loose ball during the girls' Class A State Basketball Tournament at the Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls, Thursday. TRIBUNE PHOTO/RION SANDERS

Butte Central's Kloie Thatcher attempts a shot in Thursday's game against Dawson County during the girls' Class A State Basketball Tournament at the Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls. TRIBUNE PHOTO/RION SANDERS

Dawson County's Savannah Toms draws contact while she shoots in Thursday's game against Butte Central during the girls' Class A State Basketball Tournament at the Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls. TRIBUNE PHOTO/RION SANDERS

Dawson County's Thea Robson pushes the ball up court in Thursday's game against Butte Central during the girls' Class A State Basketball Tournament at the Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls. TRIBUNE PHOTO/RION SANDERS

Dawson County's Karsen Murphy grabs a rebound over Butte Central's Kloie Thatcher during the girls' Class A State Basketball Tournament at the Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls, Thursday. TRIBUNE PHOTO/RION SANDERS

Butte Central's Tricia Joyce shoots from the outside in Thursday's game against Dawson County during the girls' Class A State Basketball Tournament at the Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls. TRIBUNE PHOTO/RION SANDERS

Dawson County's Karsen Murphy, left, and Savannah Toms celebrate a potential three point play in Thursday's game against Butte Central during the girls' Class A State Basketball Tournament at the Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls. TRIBUNE PHOTO/RION SANDERS

Butte Central's Tricia Joyce dribbles by Dawson County's Thea Robson during the girls' Class A State Basketball Tournament at the Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls, Thursday. TRIBUNE PHOTO/RION SANDERS

Butte Central's Kloie Thatcher drives to the basket in Thursday's game against Dawson County during the girls' Class A State Basketball Tournament at the Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls. TRIBUNE PHOTO/RION SANDERS

Butte Central's Tricia Joyce pushes the ball up court in Thursday's contest against Dawson County during the girls' Class A State Basketball Tournament at the Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls, Thursday. TRIBUNE PHOTO/RION SANDERS

Butte Central's Tricia Joyce celebrates a three-point basket made by teammate Kloie Thatcher during Thursday's game against Dawson County during the girls' Class A State Basketball Tournament at the Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls, Thursday. TRIBUNE PHOTO/RION SANDERS

Dawson County's Karsen Murphy attempts a shot as Butte Central's Kloie Thatcher, left, defends during the girls' Class A State Basketball Tournament at the Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls, Thursday. TRIBUNE PHOTO/RION SANDERS

Dawson County's Karsen Murphy drives to the basket in Thursday's game against Butte Central during the girls' Class A State Basketball Tournament at the Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls, Thursday. TRIBUNE PHOTO/RION SANDERS

Columbia Falls' Hannah Schweikert attempts a layup in Thursday's game against Hardin during the girls' Class A State Basketball Tournament at the Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls. TRIBUNE PHOTO/RION SANDERS

The Columbia Falls bench watches as time winds down in their first round loss to Hardin during the girls' Class A State Basketball Tournament at the Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls, Thursday. TRIBUNE PHOTO/RION SANDERS

Hardin's Marie Five and Columbia Falls Madysen Hoerner watch the ball sail out of bounds while battling for the rebound during the girls' Class A State Basketball Tournament at the Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls, Thursday. TRIBUNE PHOTO/RION SANDERS

Columbia Falls' Savannah Ellis grabs a rebound in Thursday's game against Hardin during the girls' Class A State Basketball Tournament at the Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls. TRIBUNE PHOTO/RION SANDERS

Hardin's Sharmayne Hardy handles the ball as Columbia Falls' Hannah Gedlaman during the girls' Class A State Basketball Tournament at the Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls, Thursday. TRIBUNE PHOTO/RION SANDERS

Hardin coach Cindy Farmer calls out a play in Thursday's game against Columbia Falls during the girls' Class A State Basketball Tournament at the Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls, Thursday. TRIBUNE PHOTO/RION SANDERS

Hardin's Ivery Fritzler, center, battles for the rebound with Columbia Falls' Trista Cowan, left, and Ryley Kehr during the girls' Class A State Basketball Tournament at the Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls, Thursday. TRIBUNE PHOTO/RION SANDERS

Hardin's Aiyanna Ereaux shoots in Thursday's game against Columbia Falls during the girls' Class A State Basketball Tournament at the Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls, Thursday. TRIBUNE PHOTO/RION SANDERS

Hardin's Marie Five shoots in Thursday's game against Columbia Falls during the girls' Class A State Basketball Tournament at the Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls, Thursday. TRIBUNE PHOTO/RION SANDERS

Browning coach Ray Augare huddles with his players in the fourth quarter of their game with Belgrade during the girls' Class A State Basketball Tournament at the Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls, Thursday. TRIBUNE PHOTO/RION SANDERS

Browning's Olivia Hall attempts a shot as Belgrade's Ashley Sendon defends during the girls' Class A State Basketball Tournament at the Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls, Thursday. TRIBUNE PHOTO/RION SANDERS

Belgrade's Kiah Hohenstein shoots from the outside in the quarterfinal game against Browning during the girls' Class A State Basketball Tournament at the Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls, Thursday. TRIBUNE PHOTO/RION SANDERS

Browning fans cheer on their squad in the quarterfinal game against Belgrade during the girls' Class A State Basketball Tournament at the Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls, Thursday. TRIBUNE PHOTO/RION SANDERS

Browning's Dulci Skunkcap attempts to protect the ball as Belgrade's Gabby Weber goes for the steal during the girls' Class A State Basketball Tournament at the Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls, Thursday. TRIBUNE PHOTO/RION SANDERS

Belgrade's Gabby Weber handles the ball in the quarterfinals against Browning during girls' Class A State Basketball Tournament at the Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls, Thursday. TRIBUNE PHOTO/RION SANDERS

Browning Ronnal Jordan drives to the basket Belgrade's Gabby Weber defends during the girls' Class A State Basketball Tournament at the Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls, Thursday. TRIBUNE PHOTO/RION SANDERS

Belgrade's Gabby Weber attempts a shot as Browning's Taylor Jordan, left, and Olivia Hall defend during the girls' Class A State Basketball Tournament at the Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls, Thursday. TRIBUNE PHOTO/RION SANDERS

Browning's Dulci Skunkcap handles the ball in the quarterfinal game against Belgrade during the girls' Class A State Basketball Tournament at the Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls, Thursday. TRIBUNE PHOTO/RION SANDERS

Belgrade's Kiah Hohenstein attempts a layup in the quarterfinal game against Browning during the girls' Class A State Basketball Tournament at the Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls, Thursday. TRIBUNE PHOTO/RION SANDERS

Browning's Tamika Guardipee (43) and Belgrade's Bailey Christensen battle for a rebound during the girls' Class A State Basketball Tournament at the Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls Thursday. TRIBUNE PHOTO/RION SANDERS

Hamilton's Tessa Della Silva shoots and makes a tyinig three-point basket as Havre's Kylee Nystrom defends late the quarterfinal game of the girls' Class A State Basketball Tournament at the Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls, Thursday. TRIBUNE PHOTO/RION SANDERS

Havre's Danielle Wallace grabs a rebound in front of Hamilton's Tristan Searle during the girls' Class A State Basketball Tournament at the Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls, Thursday. TRIBUNE PHOTO/RION SANDERS

Havre's Marca Herron celebrates the Blue Ponies first round win over Hamilton during the girls' Class A State Basketball Tournament at the Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls, Thursday. TRIBUNE PHOTO/RION SANDERS

Havre's Kyndall Keller claps after a score during the Blue Ponies' game against Hamilton during the girls' Class A State Basketball Tournament at the Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls, Thursday. TRIBUNE PHOTO/RION SANDERS

Havre's Kyndall Keller pushes the ball up the floor during the Blue Ponies' game against Hamilton during the girls' Class A State Basketball Tournament at the Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls, Thursday. TRIBUNE PHOTO/RION SANDERS

Hamilton's Mallory McGill attempts to dribble by the defense of Havre's Marca Herron during the girls' Class A State Basketball Tournament at the Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls, Thursday. TRIBUNE PHOTO/RION SANDERS

Havre's coach Dustin Kraske attempts to get his team in the correct defense in their game against Hamilton during the girls' Class A State Basketball Tournament at the Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls, Thursday. TRIBUNE PHOTO/RION SANDERS

Hamilton's Mallory McGill races up court with the ball in Thursday's game against Havre during the girls' Class A State Basketball Tournament at the Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls, Thursday. TRIBUNE PHOTO/RION SANDERS

Hamilton's Mallory McGill, left, and Havre's Kylie Walker compete for a loose ball during the girls' Class A State Basketball Tournament at the Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls, Thursday. TRIBUNE PHOTO/RION SANDERS

Hamilton's Cariann Kunkel handles the ball as Havre's Marca Herron defends during the girls' Class A State Basketball Tournament at the Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls, Thursday. TRIBUNE PHOTO/RION SANDERS

Havre's Kadia Miller attempts a shot in Thursday's game against Hamilton during the girls' Class A State Basketball Tournament at the Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls, Thursday. TRIBUNE PHOTO/RION SANDERS

The Havre band reacts to a call on the floor in Thursday's game against Hamilton during the girls' Class A State Basketball Tournament at the Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls. TRIBUNE PHOTO/RION SANDERS

Browning's Tamika Guardipee (43) and Belgrade's Bailey Christensen battle for a rebound during the girls' Class A State Basketball Tournament at the Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls Thursday.(Photo: TRIBUNE PHOTO/RION SANDERS)Buy Photo

Girls' basketball teams from Havre and Browning are familiar foes, and both picked up first-round victories Thursday afternoon as the State A girls' basketball tournament got underway at Pacific Steel and Recycling Four Seasons Arena.

The unbeaten Ponies will take on Browning Friday night at 6:30 in the first of two semifinal games at Four Seasons. Havre won a state championship two years ago, while Browning's last State A crown was in 1996.

Browning 63, Belgrade 51

Senior guard Ronnal Jordan poured in 22 points and the Indians recovered after losing much of a double-digit halftime lead.

“The first half was nice,” said Augare. “The second half we got into a little foul trouble and started getting heavy feet, not getting out and guarding people.”

Augare said his depth is important.

“We need everybody to come in and be able to do the job,” Augare said.

Sophomore center Tamika Guardipee had nine points and 11 rebounds for the Indians, whose lead was cut to 47-45 early in the fourth quarter.

Taylor Jordan scored inside, then hit on the fast break off a nice dish from Dulci Skunkcap as Browning regained the momentum.

Belgrade coach Sarah Fowler, who starred on the basketball court at Montana State when she was Sarah Flock and is now in charge of her alma mater’s program, said the first-half deficit was a credit to Browning.

“They out-rebounded us and got up and down the court much better than we did,” said Fowler. “I felt like we made a good adjustment at halftime, but we couldn’t quite get over the hump.”

Browning has played Havre twice. The Ponies prevailed 57-50 and 72-53.

“They’re a good team, a real good team,” Augare said. “We’ve got to match their intensity, we’ve got to rebound well, stay out of foul trouble – all that.”

The veteran coach smiled when asked about being in the state tournament semifinals. He’s been there before, of course, having led the Browning boys to three state championships before taking over the girls’ program. This is the third time five years Augare’s girls have advanced to the state semis.

“It’s a little nerve-wracking, but it’s also a lot of fun,” Augare said.

When you're down by one and have the ball in the final seconds, it's always good to get organized and take a timeout.

Unless you don't have any.

Havre took advantage of an administrative technical foul on Hamilton and edged the Broncs 43-39 Thursday afternoon in a first-round game at the State A girls' basketball tournament. at Pacific Steel and Recycling Four Seasons Arena.

The Ponies got clutch free throws down the stretch from Kyley Verploegen, Kadia Miller and Kyndall Keller. The latter swished two after Hamilton, trailing 40-39 with 4 seconds left and with the ball, called a timeout when they'd already run out.

Keller's subsequent two foul shots gave Havre a 42-39 lead, and the technical provided the Ponies of coach Dustin Kraske with the ball. Danielle Wallace hit a game-clinching free throw with 1.8 seconds left as the Ponies avoided the upset.

Hamilton coach Mark Albert took full responsibility for the miscue.

"We had a great chance to win, until I made the mistake," Albert said. "I've been coaching for 30 years and it's never happened to me before. I guess it was over-coaching a little bit. But I'm very proud of my kids."

Havre, 22-0, advances to a semifinal game Friday night 6:30. Hamilton faces loser-out action Friday at 12:30 as the tournament continues at Four Seasons.

The Ponies led for much of the game and overcame a scoreless second quarter after which the game was tied at 18.

Kraske was asked if his fine team had gone without a point in any one quarter all season.

"No," he said. "That was something to watch, wasn't it? But it's a credit to coach Albert and his girls. That was a tough one to watch."

The only thing that matters at this time of year, though, is survival. The Ponies did just that thanks to some accurate foul shooting in the waning moments.

"Verploegen was big-time, Miller was big-time," Kraske said. "I'm really happy with how we played down the stretch. They handled it with poise and dignity and made it work. It was good."

The Bulldogs flipped the script from last year’s state championship game.

Senior guards Aiyanna Ereaux and Karissa DuShane combined for 27 points as the Bulldogs, which lost to Columbia Falls 73-50 in last year’s State A title game, advanced to the semifinals with a trouncing of the Wildkats.

Hardin, coached by Cindy Farmer, is looking for its first State A championship since 1994. The Bulldogs will play either Butte Central or Glendive, who met in Thursday’s late first round game, Friday night at 8 in the semifinals.

Columbia Falls faces loser-out action Friday afternoon at 2.

Hardin led wire-to-wire, racing to a 21-11 lead after the first quarter. Ereaux and DuShane each had two 3-pointers as the Bulldogs cruised to victory. Marie Five had eight points and Arena Plenty added six for the winners.

For Columbia Falls, coached by highly successful veteran mentor Cary Finberg, Hannah Schweikert led the way with seven.

Finberg’s team was runner-up at the State AA two years ago, before winning it all last March.

The Maroons took control with an 11-0 run in the third quarter. Thatcher, who has signed with Rocky Mountain, shot 3-for-7 from 3-point range. Teammate Megan Michelotti had 12 points and 11 rebounds for Butte Central. Olivia Bolton added nine points.